The Opening Night Party at Avenue was a smashing success. The Fringe Confessional was smoking. If velvet drapes could talk—oh, wait, they can! Video will be posted soon. Beware.

Providing a suitable sonic accompaniment to the theatrical shenanigans was Basso Moderno Duo, which is Allan von Schenkel and Kristen Williams on bass and keyboards, respectively. Interestingly, just outside the club, another two-piece band, Curly & the Rocket, set up for a “fringe to the Fringe” concert. C&tR features guitar and drums (with female drummer Curly pounding it harder than Cindy Blackman. Which is very hard), so if the four got together, they’d create one traditional band.

But this is Fringe, so traditional isn’t on the program. Moderno’s mission for the evening was strictly improvisational. This, explained Allan, was necessary as the group needed to decompress from it’s recent grueling program at the Smithsonian, where 10 newly commissioned pieces were premiered. The band has commissioned 100 original works in the past two years from a who’s-who of classical composers, such as Ned Rorem, James Niblock, and a certain Yoko Ono. And get this: Yoko called them. How cool is that?

Basso Moderno is presenting 69 Ways to Fall in LOVE at the Warehouse Mainstage Theater, 1017 7th St. NW, on July 22, 24, 25, and 29. Chocolate and flowers are promised for all attendees.